Hikes in Nice - Côte d'Azur

Thanks to its sheltered location, Nice is one of the warmest places on the Côte d'Azur. Over the centuries, many kings and artists have appreciated this and returned to Nice time and time again. Russian tsars have stayed here, as did Queen Victoria of England. The writer Alexandre Dumas was one of the regular guests. The magnificent spa architecture of bygone days still bears witness to glorious times gone by. Hikes are possible here in early spring and late autumn. Then you can experience the tranquil side of Provence and the port of Nice also becomes a little quieter.

Nice is characterized by its extreme diversity. The urban area is made up of 51 municipalities spread over three geographical areas: the coast, the midlands and the peaks of the highlands. The climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, the city's rich heritage, the perched villages and the highest peak in the region, the Mercantour at 3143 m, make Nice a unique destination for outdoor activities such as hiking.

The metropolis of Nice on the Côte d'Azur offers you a variety of hiking tours with incredible panoramic views of the sea and mountains. You will come across historical treasures of the region on many hiking trails. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, there is something for everyone here: whether it's a hike to the summit of the Baou des Blancs, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the Baous, or a hike to the village of Utelle.

Well-developed hiking trails along the coast and inland allow for unique hikes, for example to the film city of Cannes or to Antibes, one of the oldest cities on the blue coast of France, which was founded by the Greeks as Antipolos as early as 340 BC. From Nice, you can hike through lavender fields to the Verdon Gorge or take a boat trip to beautiful Saint-Tropez. Excursions to Monaco and Monte Carlo are also possible.

Nice itself offers everything that people who love France can appreciate. That's why you should dedicate a few hours to the city itself and enjoy its unique charm at night, including French wines and French cuisine. One of the most impressive hikes in the city is the walk around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the cliff path.

You shouldn't miss out on a visit to the Mercantour National Park (Parc national du Mercantour) during your vacation in the south of France. You can easily reach the Maritime Alps by bus from Nice. The route leads north towards St. Martin and on to Roquebillière, then to the village of Belvédère and St. Grat. Here you will find yourself in a wonderfully peaceful alpine landscape, where the tranquillity is only interrupted by the Cascade du Ray waterfall. The circular hike to the Cascade du Piolart and the Plateau de Sestrière is also highly recommended and not difficult.

You can even hike from Lake Geneva to Nice on a long-distance hiking trail. Such hiking tours are for experienced hikers, of which you are certainly one. The well-signposted GR5 long-distance hiking trail starts at Lake Geneva and leads through the magnificent Swiss mountains to Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc. You will spend a total of six whole days hiking from Valais through the rugged rock formations of the Limestone Alps to the highest mountain in the Alps.

If you have enough time, you can add extra tours in the Limestone Alps, such as a valley hike to Le Bout Monde, the end of the world. You will spend the night in rustic huts in the Alps. Every day, a new view will take your breath away and you will hardly believe it when you are finally standing on the beach in Nice.